MONSON - Town Meeting voters on Monday night increased the town clerk's salary, approved borrowing money for a new fire engine and highway department backhoe loader, and allocated additional money for the Fire Department to expand weekend coverage and upgrade its ambulance service.

The meeting, held at Granite Valley Middle School attracted 122 residents.

Voters approved increasing the town clerk's salary to $46,527, after a motion was made by former town clerk Nancy C. Morrell.

Morrell, who retired at the end of last year, said the Finance Committee cut the pay for the elected position by $5,900. The original proposal for fiscal 2015 was for a $40,536 annual salary. She gave examples of what other town clerks in other nearby towns are paid, such as Palmer, $49,000; Wilbraham and Ludlow, $65,000; Ware, $44,000; and Montague, $57,000.

"This is a vote for the position, not the person," Morrell said.

Her husband, Highway Surveyor John R. Morrell, said the position did not deserve a $6,000 pay cut.

"There's a right and a wrong, and this is wrong," Morrell said.

Voters also approved his fiscal 2015 salary at $75,100.

Selectmen Chairman Edward A. Maia said that if the town clerk position had been advertised at the higher rate, it may have attracted more candidates to run for it. There is a race for town clerk on the June 10 election ballot, featuring assistant town clerk Mary F. Watson and resident Valerie Bogacz-Beaudoin.

The special Town Meeting, which was held in the middle of the annual Town Meeting, featured numerous lengthy zoning bylaw amendments.

While the zoning bylaw amendment to allow medical marijuana dispensaries in industrial districts attracted no discussion, a zoning amendment on lighting restrictions, designed to minimize light pollution, generated discussion from residents who expressed concern about their ability to have outdoor lights.

However, Planning Board member Paul Hatch said the amendment relates to commercial development only, and not residential areas. The amendment passed 84 to 23.

Voters also approved spending $12,500 to fund a salary and classification study, and authorized borrowing up to $400,000 to replace the fire engine and partially pay for a backhoe loader. John Morrell said the loader will cost approximately $130,000, and Town Administrator Evan Brassard said the fire engine could cost up to $325,000.

Brassard gave a short budget presentation, explaining that 55 percent of the budget goes toward education. The school budget remained level funded at $10.5 million, and features a restructuring plan that saves $300,000 and brings back music to the middle school, expands preschool and adds elective offerings at the high school, among other changes including eliminating all assistant principals.

Voters also approved spending community preservation act funds for the following projects - up to $50,000 to complete safety and code violations at Memorial Hall, which has been closed since last summer; $78,000 to repair and preserve the stone wall at Hillside Cemetery along Thompson and Mill streets, and $58,975 to restore and repaint the historic Methodist Church downtown.